Ski socks



G. H. LlTMAN Oct. 10, 1961 SKI SOCKS Filed March 2, 1959 INVENTOR. GLEL H. L/TMN ECKHOFF SL/CK ATTOR/VgVS W.

MEMBER OF THE F/RM United States Patent O 3,003,154 SKI SOCKS Gilel H. Litman, Guggachstrasse 25, Zurich, Switzerland Filed Mar. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 796,490 2 Claims. (Cl. 2--Z39) This invention relates to a stocking and more particularly relates to a padded stocking which is adapted for use when one Wears heavy shoes. It is particularly useful for skiers, skaters and mountain climbers who are not accustomed to wearing high top shoes but who wear low cut shoes most of the year. People who are in the habit of wearing low cut shoes frequently find that high top shoes irritate them in the ankle region, particularly when engaged in strenuous sports such as skiing. Although this might be partially alleviated by the wearing of heavy stockings, such stockings are not completely effective and also are relatively expensive. Also, attempts have been made to employ padding or wrapping but since these shift on the feet they are equally ineffective.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sock which can be worn over or under conventional stockings.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sock having substantially continuous padding around the upper portion thereof to protect the ankle, instep and heel from abrasion. Another object of this invention is to provide a padded sock in which padding goes substantially completely yaround the ankle protecting all parts of the ankle. Other objects will be apparent in the balance of `the specification.

In the drawings forming a part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a sock made in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view on the lines 2PZ of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to a description of the drawings by reference characters, the sock, generally designated 3, has a body 5 which can be of conventional stocking material and is preferably of cotton flannel. The sock may be made in two parts held together by a at seam to provide a minimum of irritation to the foot of the wearer. At the top of the sock an elastic band 7 is preferably provided which serves to keep out cold air and to also hold the sock up. Situated around the ankle of the wearer are four substantially contiguous padded areas which have been designated 9, 10, 11 and 12. Each of these padded areas consists of Patented Oct. 10, 1961 rice an outside layer 12-A, which may be the material from which the body o f the sock itself is made, an inside cloth layer, 12-B and a suitable padding 12-C. Preferably the padding is of sponge rubber, although other padding materials can be used. The inside layer cloth as well as the padding itself is held in place with suitable stitching 14. It will be noted that the four pads come together substantially completely so that the entire ankle is surrounded. It will be also noted that the pads extend downwardly from the top of the sock to a distance well below the ankle bones so that all of the parts of the ankle are Well protected.

I claim:

l. A sock for use by skiers and the like comprising: a cloth body including an integral ankle-surrounding portion, said ankle-surrounding portion having an elastic band -about the top thereof, said band being of suicient resilience to hold the ankle-surrounding portion of the said sock in place when worn, said ankle-surrounding portion having four substantially rectangular pads positioned thereabout, said pads being substantially contiguous to one another, each of said pads extending from a point immediaetly beneath the said elastic band to a point below the area normally occupied by the Wearers ankle when the said sock is in use, two of the said pads constituting a rst pair being positioned directly over the portion of the said sock normally occupied by the ankle bone of the said wearer when the said sock is in use, the other two pads being positioned opposite one another between the said first pair of the said pads, the said pads being secured in place by four individual pieces of cloth, each of the said pieces of cloth overlying one of the said pads and being of a slightly larger size than the said pad covered thereby, each of the said pieces of cloth being stitched to the said integral ankle-surrounding portion.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the said pads are of sponge rubber.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

